US20170350609A1

US20170350609A1 - Air conditioning device

Info

Publication number: US20170350609A1
Application number: US15/235,601
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chung HSIAO; Yi-Yang LIN; Yu-Te Chou; Cheng-Wei Ho; Ming-Shun Hung; Yu-Jen Huang; Min-Yu Lin
Original assignee: Moai Electronics Corp
Current assignee: Moai Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2016-06-06
Filing date: 2016-08-12
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Also published as: TWM529128U

Abstract

An air conditioning device includes a duct module and a heat exchange module. The duct module includes a temperature control unit disposed at a second region of the duct module, a first air flow guide unit disposed between a first region and the second region of the duct module, and a first liquid energy conducting element disposed at the first region of the duct module. The heat exchange module has a delivery duct, an accommodating case, a driver unit, a second air flow guide unit, a heat exchanger and a second liquid energy conducting element. The driver unit drives condensed water to pass through the delivery duct. The second air flow guide unit provides an air flow to the heat exchanger for exhausting waste heat. The second liquid energy conducting element performs heat exchange to cool down.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to air conditioning devices, and, more specifically, to an air conditioning device using an air conditioning system coupled with an evaporation cooling technique, through circulating the condensed water to process the waste heat.

2. Description of Related Art

The thermoelectric cooling chip based air conditioning device is a popular choice for a compact size air conditioning device as it is compact in size, makes no noises, does not use a refrigerant and is environmentally friendly, as compared to the traditional compression type air conditioning device.
However, the thermoelectric cooling chip operates by circulating the cooling effect provided on the surface to cool down the ambient temperature. When the temperature of the air flow is high during hot weather day plus particle pollution, it can likely adversely affect the efficiency of heat exchange, thereby reducing the cooling effect.
Besides, when one side of the thermoelectric cooling chip is performing the cooling operation, the other side of the thermoelectric cooling chip is performing the heating operation, and the generated waste heat is exhausted to the ambient and also indirectly raises the difficulty of cooling by the air conditioning device.
Therefore, there is a need to solve the prior art problems increasing the cooling efficiency and solving the problem of exhausted waste heat produced by the thermoelectric cooling chip.

SUMMARY

In light of solving the foregoing problems of the prior art, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning device, comprising: a duct module and a heat exchange module. The duct module has opposing first and second regions, and comprises: a temperature control unit disposed at the second region of the duct module; a first air flow guide unit disposed at the first region, a second region or between the first region and the second region of the duct module; and a first liquid energy conducting element disposed at the first region of the duct module.
The heat exchange module is coupled to the duct module and configured for processing the waste heat produced by the temperature control unit, and has an accommodating case, a heat exchanger, a second liquid energy conducting element, a delivery duct, a driver unit and a second air flow guide unit. The accommodating case is used to collect the condensed water produced by the temperature control unit. The heat exchanger is used to remove the waste heat produced by the temperature control unit. The second liquid energy conducting element is used to remove the waste heat produced by the heat exchanger. The delivery duct is used to couple the second liquid energy conducting element, the accommodating case and the duct module in series. The driver unit is used to drive the condensed water to pass the delivery duct, such that the condensed water flows between the second liquid energy conducting element and the accommodating case. The second air flow guide unit is used to provide air flow to the heat exchanger. Therefore, the waste heat generated by the heat exchanger is allowed to be delivered to the second liquid energy conducting element to carry out the process of cooling by heat exchange.
In an embodiment, the heat exchanger is disposed between the second liquid energy conducting element and the second air flow guide unit.
In an embodiment, the first liquid energy conducting element comprises a water inlet, a water outlet and a water curtain module, the water curtain module is disposed in the inner side of the first region of the duct module, through the water inlet the condensed water is drawn to the water curtain module, and drawn out by the water outlet.
In an embodiment, the air conditioning device comprises a plurality of the duct modules.
In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a control module configured for controlling the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit or the first air flow guide unit.
In an embodiment, the control module comprises a setting unit which is used to set up the threshold temperature of the duct module and output a corresponding first control signal to the temperature control unit, such that control module controls the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit based on the first control signal.
In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a detecting module, which is used to detect the temperature of the second region of the duct module, generate a temperature signal, and send the temperature signal to the control module, the control module outputs the corresponding second control signal to the temperature control unit or first air flow guide unit based on the threshold temperature set by the setting unit and the temperature signal, and the control module further controls the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit or the first air flow guide unit based on the second control signal.
In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a power module for providing the operation power to the duct module, the heat exchange module, the control module and the detecting module.
In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises an air collecting unit that has an air flow inlet facing towards the second region of the duct module and an air flow outlet around wherein the detecting module is disposed.
In comparison with the prior art, the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure has a water curtain based evaporation cooling system, which is capable of purification and first cooling, followed by a second cooling, such that the overall cooling efficiency is improved. The air conditioning device of the present disclosure is also capable of recycle the condensed water generated by the thermoelectric cooling chip to reduce the waste heat in the system, thereby effectively controlling the temperature balance within the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an application framework of an air condition device according to the present disclosure for processing condensed water.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an application framework of a water curtain of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is described by the following specific embodiments. Those with ordinary skills in the arts can readily understand other advantages and functions of the present disclosure after reading the disclosure of this specification.
It should be noted that the structures, ratios, sizes shown in the drawings appended to this specification are to be construed in conjunction with the disclosure of this specification in order to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art. They are not meant, in any ways, to limit the implementations of the present disclosure, and therefore have no substantial technical meaning. Without affecting the effects created and objectives achieved by the present disclosure, any modifications, changes or adjustments to the structures, ratio relationships or sizes, are to be construed as fall within the range covered by the technical contents disclosed herein. Meanwhile, terms, such as “on”, “in”, “at”, “inner”, “external”, “one”, “a” and the like, are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to limit the range implementable by the present disclosure. Any changes or adjustments made to their relative relationships, without modifying the substantial technical contents, are also to be construed as within the range implementable by the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an application framework of an air condition device according to the present disclosure for processing condensed water. The air conditioning device comprises a duct module 1 having opposing first and second regions 11 and 12, and a heat exchange module 2 disposed at the second region 12. The duct module 1 comprises a temperature control unit 13 disposed at the second region 12, a first air flow guide unit 14 disposed between the first region 11 and second region 12, and a first liquid energy conducting element 15 disposed at the first region 11. It should be noted that the first air flow guide unit 14 may also be disposed at the first region 11 or the second region 12. In an embodiment, the temperature control unit 13 is a thermoelectric cooling chip capable of producing temperature gradient, by generating cooling or heating ends when charged, and the first air flow guide unit 14 can be a fan powered by electricity. The fan is operated to generate an air flow, the direction flow of which is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1. The air flow enters the first region 11, passes through the cooling end of the temperature control unit 13, and then exists from the second region 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchange module 2 is coupled to the duct module 1, for processing the waste heat produced by the temperature control unit 13. In an embodiment, the heat exchange module 2 comprises a delivery duct 21, an accommodating case 22, a driver unit 23, a second air flow guide unit 24, a heat exchanger 25 and a second liquid energy conducting element 26. The accommodating case 22 is used to collect the condensed water generated when the cooling ends of the temperature control unit 13 (thermoelectric cooling chip) are in contact with the air. The delivery duct 21 is used to couple the second liquid energy conducting element 26, the accommodating case 22 and the duct module 1 in series. In an embodiment, the second liquid energy conducting element 26 is a water curtain. The driver unit 23 may be a motor (the number of which can be single or more than one). The second air flow guide unit 24 may be a fan. The heat exchanger 25 can be disposed between the second liquid energy conducting element 26 and the second air flow guide unit 24, i.e., between the water curtain and the fan. After the condensed water is collected in the accommodating case 22, the start-up motor is used to drive the condensed water to flow through the delivery duct 21 to the second liquid energy conducting element 26 (water curtain), the waste heat generated from the heating ends of the temperature control unit 13 (thermoelectric cooling chip) is guided to the heat exchanger 25, the waste heat is outputted through the air flow blown towards the heat exchanger 25 generated by the second air flow guide unit 24 (fan), and the waste heat is then in contact with the second liquid energy conducting element 26 for cooling down the temperature by heat exchange.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the application framework of the water curtain of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure, wherein the arrow direction is the direction of water flow. It should be noted that FIG. 1 mainly illustrates the application framework of the temperature control unit 13 which collects the condensed water to the second liquid energy conducting element 26 for processing the waste heat, while FIG. 2 mainly illustrates the application frame work of drawing the condensed water from the accommodating case 22 to the first region 11 of the duct module 1, for cooling the air. In other words, the condensed water collected from the temperature control unit 13 can be stored in the accommodating case 22 and then delivered to the second liquid energy conducting element 26 and the first region 11 of the duct module 1 via the operation of the driver unit 23.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first liquid energy conducting element 15 may comprise a water inlet 151, a water outlet 152 and a water curtain module 153. The water curtain module 153 is disposed on the inner side of the first region 11 of the duct module 1. The condensed water stored in the accommodating case 22 is drawn from the water inlet 15 to the water curtain module 153, the air entering the first region 11 would pass the water curtain module 153, to carry out the first purification and cooling down, and then the condensed water is drawn back to the accommodating case 22, while the purified air enters to the second region 12 to be in contact with the temperature control unit 13. In an embodiment, the water curtain module 153 is a cylindrical structure.
FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of duct modules 1 which are used to exemplify an embodiment of the present disclosure. However, in other embodiments, it is applicable to have a single duct module 1 in the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure. The arrow direction shown in FIG. 4 is provided to indicate the direction of the air flow, so as to clearly illustrate the operation of multiple ducts configuration in the air conditioning device of the present disclosure.
Referring to both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a control module 3 configured for controlling the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit 13 and the first air flow guide unit 14. In an embodiment, the aforesaid on/off or the configuration actions include controlling the on/off and loading strength of the temperature control unit 13 (such as a thermoelectric cooling chip), or controlling the on/off action, operational time, and rotational speed of the first air flow guide unit 14 (such as a fan), etc.
The control module 3 may comprise a setting unit 31 configured for setting up the threshold temperature for the duct module 1, and outputting the corresponding first control signal to each of the temperature control unit 13 or the first air flow guide unit 14, and the control module 3 controls the on/off action or the configuration of the temperature control unit 13 or the first air flow guide unit 14 by the first control signal.
The air conditioning device according to the present disclosure may further comprise a detecting module 4 configured for detecting the temperature of the air flow generated by the first air flow guide unit 14, at the time when it flows from the second region 12 of the duct module 1, and generating a corresponding temperature signal to the control module 3. Then the control module 3 in response outputs a corresponding second control signal to each of the temperature control unit 13 or the first air flow guide unit 14 based on the threshold temperature set up by the setting unit 31 and the temperature signal, such that the control module 3 further controls the on/off action or the configuration of the temperature control unit 13 or the first air flow guide unit 14 by the second control signal.
FIG. 5 shows the operation of multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure. With regard to the air conditioning device having a plurality of duct modules 1 as proposed according to the present disclosure, the operational efficiency distributed to each duct module 1 determines the overall output efficiency of the air conditioning device of the present disclosure, i.e., the maximum cooling strength that can be reached at a fixed power load. This embodiment of the present disclosure illustrates the operational steps S1 to S11 of the two duct modules 1A and 1B, as an example below. However, this should not limit the scope of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art can easily conceived the operation with more duct modules 1.
Firstly in step S1, the threshold temperature of the two duct modules 1A and 1B are set by the setting unit 31, wherein the threshold temperature is the target temperature for each duct module 1 desired to be reached in operation, and then the temperature control unit 13 and first air flow guide unit 14 of each duct module are started up. Steps S2 and S3 are then followed, wherein the control module 3 adjusts the first air flow guide units 14A and 14B of the duct modules 1A and 1B to be low loading (such as 30% loading, low rotational speed for the fan), or zero loading. At this time, the two duct modules are storing the cold, and a variable frequency motor technique can be applied in the control module 3 to not only capable of controlling the on/off the air flow generated by the first air flow guide unit 14, but also adjusting the magnitude of the air flow.
Subsequently, steps S4 to S7 are performed, for detecting the real time temperature of the duct modules 1A and 1B by the detecting module 4. When the real time temperature of the duct module 1A is lower than or equal to the cooling threshold temperature, the control module 3 changes the first air flow guide unit 14A to be high loading (such as 70% loading, higher rotational speed for the fan) or full loading, to allow the duct module 1A distribute the cold. The detecting module 4 would not carry out the first temperature detection for the duct module 1B, to allow the duct module 1B to continue to store cold, in order to separate the time of operation of the duct module 1A, and when the duct module 1B is higher than or equal to the cold distribution threshold temperature, the control module 3 then changes the first air flow guide unit 14B to low loading or zero loading.
Steps S8 to S11 are then performed to repeat steps S4 and S5, wherein the detecting module 4 detects the real time temperature of the duct modules 1A and 1B, and when the real time temperature of the duct module 1A is higher than or equal to the cold distribution threshold temperature, the control module 3 changes the first air flow guide unit 14A to be low loading or zero loading, to allow the duct module 1A to store cold, and on the other hand when the real time temperature of the duct module 1B is lower than or equal to the cooling threshold temperature, the control module 3 changes the first air flow guide unit 14B to be high loading or full loading, to allow the duct module 1B to distribute cold.
As such, through the aforementioned repeating cycles of alternate cooling, the output of the air conditioning device is able to be maintained in a stable low temperature, and energy is thus saved. Besides, the control module 3 can not only control the loading of the first air flow guide unit 14, but also adjust the loading of the temperature control unit 13, such that the cooling or heating efficiency is enhanced through such efficient distribution.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air conditioning device may further comprise a power module 5 configured for providing the operational energy for the duct module 1, the heat exchange module 2, the control module 3 and the detecting module 4.
All embodiments of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure with multiple ducts or single duct may further comprise an air collecting unit 6. The air collecting unit 6 has an air inlet 61 and an air outlet 62. The air inlet 61 faces towards the second region 12 of each duct module 1. The detecting module 4 can be disposed around the air outlet 62. In an embodiment, the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure utilizes the function of the air collecting unit 6 to collect the air flow generated from multiple duct modules 1, so as to increase the efficiency of cooling or heating.
In summary, the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure is based on the concept of a thermoelectric cooling chip, with the additional water curtain structure and waste heat treatment, which not only increase the efficiency of cooling, but also reduce the amount of waste heat exhausted outside, to reach a balance in temperature, which cannot be achieved by other air condition device on the market today.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as to limit the present disclosure in any way. The above embodiments can be modified by those with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device, comprising:

a duct module having opposing first region and second region, the duct module comprising:

a temperature control unit disposed at the second region of the duct module;

a first air flow guide unit disposed at the first region, the second region, or between the first region and the second region of the duct module; and

a first liquid energy conducting element disposed at the first region of the duct module; and

a heat exchange module coupled to the duct module for processing waste heat produced by the temperature control unit.

2. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange module further comprises:

an accommodating case configured for collecting condensed water produced by the temperature control unit;

a heat exchanger configured for removing the waste heat produced by the temperature control unit;

a second liquid energy conducting element configured for removing waste heat produced by the heat exchanger;

a delivery duct configured for coupling the second liquid energy conducting element, the accommodating case and the duct module;

a driver unit configured for driving the condensed water to pass through the delivery duct and flow between the second liquid energy conducting element and the accommodating case; and

a second air flow guide unit configured for producing an air flow to the heat exchanger, such that the waste heat produced by the heat exchanger is delivered to the second liquid energy conducting element through the air flow, to cool down temperature through heat exchange.

3. The air conditioning device of claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the second liquid energy conducting element and the second air flow guide unit.

4. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid energy conducting element comprises a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water curtain module disposed inside the first region of the duct module, wherein the condensed water is drawn to the water curtain module through the water inlet and drawn out by the water outlet.

5. The air conditioning device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the duct modules.

6. The air conditioning device of claim 5, further comprising a control module configured for controlling on/off or configuration of the temperature control unit or the first air flow guide unit.

7. The air conditioning device of claim 6, wherein the control module comprises a setting unit configured for setting up a threshold temperature of the duct module, and outputting a corresponding first control signal to the temperature control unit, and the control module controls the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit by the first control signal.

8. The air conditioning device of claim 7, further comprising a detecting module configured for detecting a temperature of the second region of the duct module, producing a corresponding temperature signal, and sending the corresponding temperature signal to the control module, wherein the control module further outputs a corresponding second control signal to the temperature control unit or the first air flow guide unit based on the threshold temperature set by the setting unit and the temperature signal, and the control module further controls the on/off or the configuration of the temperature control unit or the first air flow guide unit by the second temperature control signal.

9. The air conditioning device of claim 8, further comprising a power module configured for providing an operational power to the duct module, the heat exchange module, the control module and the detecting module.

10. The air conditioning device of claim 9, further comprising an air collecting unit having an inlet facing the second region of the duct module and an outlet at which the detecting module is disposed.